Animal information and Habitat
The Puijila darwini was said to be the ancestor for the California Sea lion. It is also the likely desendent of most whales, walruses and seals, as it family is of the pinnped group. The animal itsel is likely to be amphibious, not like frogs, but by being able to traverse through land and sea. The animal itself is llikely to have measured about 1.1 meters or 110 centimeters from head to tail. Even during the Miocene, the artic should be near the poles suggesting that this animal had roamed in frigid waters which closely links it to the californian Sea lion. Yet during that time in the MIocene, it suggests that its conditions were much like the conditions of that of New Jersey in the US with its cool temprature and temprate climate. Its diet mainly consist of small shellfish which are present in those waters during such times.
Its fossils were found on an island called Devon Island, located deep inside the Artic circle during that time. On that island was located a freshwater lake where the Puijila lived in and around the lake.
Environmental Pressures
There are many environmental pressures that are present during those times which could result in the appearance of these adaptations. The adaptations that are present in the animal help it to not only hunt in the sea but walk on land as well. They may have adapted the ability to come on land to escape from preadators in the sea. They may have adapted/retained the ability to swim because of its preffered diet is in the water.
Structual Adaptations
One noticable structual adaptation of the Puijia was its webbed feet. These webbed feet will help it swim in the water and allow it to become amphibious. Although flippers were not present, it is theorized that in some stage of this animals appearance was the begining for the development of flippers. The webbed feet also allowed the animal to approch outside of the lake living a semi-aquatic life.
The second structual adaptation is the well developed mucles near the fore limbs of the animal, suggesting that this animal is relatively a strong swimmer, capable of pushing throught the water with tremendous force. These mucles are used in conjunction with their webbed feet, to be able to become a fast swimmer.
Behavioural Adaptations
With the Puijia, one of its Adaptations is how they hunt. As it swims and hunts in the water its behaviour is similar to that of modern day animals. Highly manuverable, and fast capable of outrunning any predator and catching any sort of prey.
The second behavioural adaptation that is present in the Puijia is the fact that they are semi-aquatic. They would normally use the lake to feed on prey, however, predators are also present in that lake. It is theorized that the Puijia uses the lake to hunt but is capable of finding the closest shore by taking the closest route towards land in order to escape from preadetors.
Physiological
By swimming in frigid waters, it is assumed that the Puijia is warm blooded, being warm blooded, it is able to sustain itself in frigid waters. If it were cold blooded, then the animal would not be able to survive in such cool climates like reptiles. Being warm blooded also has the advanage of not having to spen hours reheating their blood like reptiles
Animal information and Habitat
The Puijila darwini was said to be the ancestor for the California Sea lion. It is also the likely desendent of most whales, walruses and seals, as it family is of the pinnped group. The animal itsel is likely to be amphibious, not like frogs, but by being able to traverse through land and sea. The animal itself is llikely to have measured about 1.1 meters or 110 centimeters from head to tail. Even during the Miocene, the artic should be near the poles suggesting that this animal had roamed in frigid waters which closely links it to the californian Sea lion. Yet during that time in the MIocene, it suggests that its conditions were much like the conditions of that of New Jersey in the US with its cool temprature and temprate climate. Its diet mainly consist of small shellfish which are present in those waters during such times.
Its fossils were found on an island called Devon Island, located deep inside the Artic circle during that time. On that island was located a freshwater lake where the Puijila lived in and around the lake.
Environmental Pressures
There are many environmental pressures that are present during those times which could result in the appearance of these adaptations. The adaptations that are present in the animal help it to not only hunt in the sea but walk on land as well. They may have adapted the ability to come on land to escape from preadators in the sea. They may have adapted/retained the ability to swim because of its preffered diet is in the water.
Structual Adaptations
One noticable structual adaptation of the Puijia was its webbed feet. These webbed feet will help it swim in the water and allow it to become amphibious. Although flippers were not present, it is theorized that in some stage of this animals appearance was the begining for the development of flippers. The webbed feet also allowed the animal to approch outside of the lake living a semi-aquatic life.
The second structual adaptation is the well developed mucles near the fore limbs of the animal, suggesting that this animal is relatively a strong swimmer, capable of pushing throught the water with tremendous force. These mucles are used in conjunction with their webbed feet, to be able to become a fast swimmer.
Behavioural Adaptations
With the Puijia, one of its Adaptations is how they hunt. As it swims and hunts in the water its behaviour is similar to that of modern day animals. Highly manuverable, and fast capable of outrunning any predator and catching any sort of prey.
The second behavioural adaptation that is present in the Puijia is the fact that they are semi-aquatic. They would normally use the lake to feed on prey, however, predators are also present in that lake. It is theorized that the Puijia uses the lake to hunt but is capable of finding the closest shore by taking the closest route towards land in order to escape from preadetors.
Physiological
By swimming in frigid waters, it is assumed that the Puijia is warm blooded, being warm blooded, it is able to sustain itself in frigid waters. If it were cold blooded, then the animal would not be able to survive in such cool climates like reptiles. Being warm blooded also has the advanage of not having to spen hours reheating their blood like reptiles
"About the Animal - Puijila: A Prehistoric Walking Seal." Canadian Museum of Nature - Musée Canadien De La Nature. Web. 29 July 2010. <[[http://nature.ca/puijila/aa_e.cfm>."Puijila|http://nature.ca/puijila/aa_e.cfm>.]]
"Puijila, the Walking Seal - a Beautiful Transitional Fossil : Not Exactly Rocket Science." ScienceBlogs. Web. 29 July 2010. <[[http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2009/04/puijila_the_walking_seal_beautiful_transitional_fossil.php>."Puijila Darwini - 'Missing Link' In Evolution Of Seals, Sea Lions And Walruses." Science 2.0 - Official Site of Science 2.0® - The World's Best Scientists, the Internet's Smartest Readers. Web. 29 July 2010. <http://www.science20.com/news_articles/puijila_darwini_missing_link_evolution_seals_sea_lions_and_walruses>.